Late spring, early summer, the longest days of the year – thank goodness as there is so much to pack in! Let’s take a peek at what is in store as the glorious light nights beckon…
Top for Street Art…
It can ONLY be the return of Yardworks at SWG3. During the first May weekend, the great and good of world street art will descend on Yorkhill’s finest arts venue. Can you believe this will be Yardworks 6th year? Well, 2024 is set to be the biggest and best yet. Up and coming talent will work alongside global art stars in the Galvanizers Yard. Artists showcasing their talent include German graffiti artist Jeroo, Manchester mural artist Katie Scott as well as Brazilian 3D writer Ed-Mun, whom Yardworks have commissioned to create this year’s unique look and merchandise design.
At the heart of the festival is obviously the Yardworks Studio in Eastvale Place, a permanent space for artists from across the city to bring together their creativity. And younger artists can look forward once again to workshops in the Warehouse space as well as the dynamite Mini Manoeuvres dance party. Fingers crossed for dry weather and may the creativity be with you!
Yardworks Festival
Sat 4th – Sun 5th May
SWG3
Eastvale Place
w:swg3.tv/events/
Tickets available from w:ticketmaster.co.uk
Top for Dance
Thankfully, more and more international dance companies are touring beyond the boundary of the Watford Gap. And fans of dance (such as my good self) couldn’t be happier. In May, the utterly breath-taking Andalucia – Flamenco production comes to The Royal Concert Hall. The award-winning Daniel Martinez Flamenco Company are the stars of the show, with a long anticipated second production being accompanied by chamber orchestra. Flamenco as an art form that literally draws the audience into the dance; the dancers themselves, the passion of the singers, the beauty of the guitar. And with an added strata in the form of the chamber orchestra, get ready for something extremely special. Prepare to be dazzled.
Along at The Theatre Royal, the magnificent Matthew Bourne brings his magical production of Edward Scissorshands. The story of course comes from the beautiful Tim Burton film with music by Danny Elfman. After Edward’s creator dies before his creation is quite finished, the boy is left with only scissors for hands. Will he find a place to be accepted, a place to call home? This stunning ballet production is both heartfelt and witty. One not to be missed.
Andalucia Flamenco
Sunday 19th May
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
w:glasgowlife.org.uk/whats-on/glasgow-life-tickets
Edward Scissorhands
Tues 21st – Sat 25th May
Theatre Royal Glasgow
w:atgtickets.com
Top for a Unique Weekend of Fairs
With Winter a dim (very) and distant memory, let’s take a wander out and about the city. There are plenty of little markets, fairs, and festivals on over the next few months. To start, just along at the Botanic Gardens is the exquisite Orchid Fair. It’s the only annual orchid fair in the country and is celebrating its silver jubilee – 25 years at the Botanics. This is a fair that can only be described as a feast for the senses. With a backdrop of the Kibble Palace, there will be sensational displays of flowering orchids, rare tropical plants, and plenty of help on hand to advise. A tropical getaway in our dear green place.
Thereafter, why not venture further, into town, where the annual Coffee Festival arrives at the Briggait. These guys are also celebrating a big birthday – 10 years of barista brilliance! The Glasgow Coffee Festival has speciality coffee from all over Scotland for you to literally taste and try before you buy. With programmes of workshops, exhibitors, accessories to buy, this is a caffeine-fuelled belter of a weekend.
Glasgow Botanic Gardens Orchid Fair
Sat 11th – Sunday 12th May
Kibble Palace
Glasgow Botanic Gardens
w:scottishorchidsociety.org/orchid-fair-2024
Glasgow Coffee Festival
Sat 11th – Sunday 12th May
The Briggait
141 Bridgegate
G1 5HZ
w:glasgowcoffeefestival.com
Top for a Wee Market Wander
And rounding off our weekend wandering, why not try out a couple of pop-up markets? A regular little gem is the Secret Market at The Hive in Finnieston. Running the first Sunday of the month, this gorgeous little find showcases items from Scottish designers – jewelley, candles and homeware, as well as bakery goods and some yummy hot food. Along at SWG3 another Sunday pop-up Parklane Market will be appearing this Summer. This market is a southside favourite but will be taking a summer residency at the Galvanizers Yard in May and June. This is billed as a ‘Second-Hand Wonderland’ with traders exhibiting the best of pre-loved and vintage items. With street food, a bar and a family friendly and doggy atmosphere, this feels like THE perfect Summer Sunday with the family.
The Secret Market Glasgow
First Sundays of the Month
The Hive,
Finnieston
I:Instagram.com/thesecretmarketgla
Park Lane Market
Sundays from 12th May – 9th June
SWG3
Eastvale Place
w:swg3.tv
Top for Theatre
Trips to the theatre are always lovely in early Summer as you come outside at the end of the show – to daylight! A corker of a show this season is I,Spie. John Dowland was an Elizabethan composer and musician. Based on a letter that Dowland actually wrote, this concert/play tells the story of how he foiled a plot on the life of Queen Elizabeth the first. This 16th century espionage show has everything – music, drama and audience participation. It’s written by award-winning writer Clare Norburn and directed by BAFTA-nominated Nicholas Renton. You even decide the ending…
For younger theatre goers, you can’t do better than The Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre. Their programme over the early Summer months, is being brought to us as part of the fabulous WestFest and is fantastic for little ones. There’s the tale of the Billy Goats Gruff and Little Red Riding Hood by the Banyan Puppet Theatre. Theatre Presto bring us their Summer musical ‘Oor Boaby Brooned Aff Abroad”. This is definitely one that will traverse the generations – as it’s based on Oor Wullie. Awww.
I, Spie
Websters Theatre
Great Western Road
w:thetelling.co.uk/i-spie
w:webstersglasgow.com
The Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre at WestFest
Dates throughout June
8-10 Balcarres Ave
Kelvindale G12 0QF
w:maskandpuppet.co.uk
Best of the Rest
The Kelvin Choir with the Glasgow Chamber Orchestra
perform Handel and Haydn
Sat 4th May
St John’s Renfield Church
G12 0NY
w:kelvinchoir.com
ACME RaiCon
Sat 11th May
SEC Glasgow
w:acmecomiccon.com
Glasgow International Festival of Contemporary Arts
Fri 7th – Sun 23rd June
Various Venues
w:glasgowinternational.org
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